CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Begins and jumps (6) 5 Makeshift centre removed to fit (2,4) 8 Bleak German on edge (4) 9 Spots the head’s lack of caution (8) 10 Servant holding fee (8) 11 Fat girl goes to town (4) 12 Playful tot in centre of jacuzzi (3,3) 14 Group, yes, is stylish (6) 16 Bird to carry out twice (4) 18 Casual dial (4‑4) 20 Eavesdrop, though line isn’t rigged (6,2) 21 Doubt over regular instrument (4) 22 Come out with oriental blend (6) 23 Bird left in mesh (6)

DOWN

2 In code, protocol sent up weapon (7) 3 Dance with odd graduate (5) 4 Three months’ surplus for weighing device (6,7) 5 Enlightening but maybe non‑altruistic (13) 6 Country is one circled by fish (7) 7 Topic for children (5) 13 Stagger around river with pig’s foot (7) 15 Something sweet in prepared courses (7) 17 Hatred of metal, not sulphur (5) 19 Burnt out, depressed, in the outskirts of Berlin (5)